Northrop Grumman is strengthening its campaign for the U.S. Navy’s next-generation carrier fighter as the long-awaited F/A-XX decision moves closer.
Fighter Jet
Japan is strengthening its role in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) as it prepares for the next generation of air combat.
The fighters listed below represent the most capable operational combat aircraft in 2026, based on a mix of technological sophistication, combat capability, speed, stealth, and operational versatility.
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is preparing for the next phase of its KF-21 Boramae fighter program as South Korea moves closer to inducting the domestically developed combat aircraft into operational service.
Japan has selected Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ (MHI) Komaki South Plant in Aichi Prefecture as the national assembly site for its Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) sixth-generation fighter, marking another major milestone in the trilateral defense project with the United Kingdom and Italy.
While advanced fighter jets and bombers often dominate headlines, trained military pilots remain the foundation of every combat-ready air force.
Germany could eventually strengthen the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), according to the chief executive of Italian aerospace and defense company Leonardo.
Turkey is pushing to sell its Russian S-400 air defense system to win back access to the American F-35, with Qatar and the UAE named as potential buyers.
Below are the ten most expensive fighter jets ever built, ranked by approximate unit cost, with one strategic bomber included as a benchmark outlier.
US lawmakers revive the F-35 pitch to Spain after the FCAS collapse, as Madrid weighs Turkey’s KAAN fighter instead.